Apparatus for measuring drag-force of fishing reel

Abstract

A drag-force measuring apparatus for fishing reels wherein a handle shaft and a spool shaft are in non-axially spaced apart relationship; there being motion transmitting a components interconnecting the handle and spool shafts. A drag device is provided for imparting a drag-force to the fishing line wound on the spool carried on the spool shaft. A handle is mounted on the handle shaft for relative rotatable relationship with respect thereto. A drag-force measuring mechanism is fixed on the handle shaft and including a portion outwardly of the handle. A spring interconnects the drag-force measuring mechanism and the handle for limited relative rotation of the handle with respect to the handle shaft.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A fishing reel comprising a casing, a spool shaft, a spool carried on said spool shaft, a fishing line wound about said spool, means rotatably maintaining said spool shaft in said casing, a handle shaft having inner and outer portions, a bearing rotatably supporting the inner portion whereby the outer portion is located outwardly of said casing, a handle, means mounting said handle on said handle shaft on the outer portion for relative rotatable motion with respect thereto, a drag-force adjusting knob rotatable on said handle shaft, a drive gear disposed on said handle shaft, a drag device mounted on said handle shaft inwardly of said handle for preselected pressure-setting by rotation of said adjusting knob, said drag device frictionally connecting said drive gear to said handle shaft and interconnecting said drive gear and said adjusting knob and comprising an assembly of laminated washers interengaging said drive gear and said handle shaft and spring means disposed between said drag-force adjusting knob and said washers, whereby said washers are pressurized commensurate with the pressure applied on said spring means by operation of said adjusting knob for effecting the frictional connection of said drive gear to handle shaft, means operatively connecting said handle shaft and said spool shaft for transmitting torque from said handle shaft proportional to the pressure force on the washers to said spool shaft, said torque transmitting means comprising a pinion gear mounted on said spool shaft and engageable with said drive gear, a drag-force measuring mechanism fixed on said handle for applying on said handle a torque slightly greater than the torque applied by said drive gear on said handle shaft, and cooperative visual drag-force display means provided on said drag-force measuring mechanism and said handle. 
     
     
       2. A fishing reel as defined in claim 1 wherein said handle shaft is axially parallel to said spool shaft. 
     
     
       3. A fishing reel as defined in claim 1 wherein said drag-force measuring mechanism includes resilient means for applying the torque on said handle. 
     
     
       4. A fishing reel as defined in claim 1 wherein said cooperative display means comprises at least one indicator member provided on said drag-force measuring mechanism and a series of numeric graduations provided on said handle for coordination with said at least one indicator member. 
     
     
       5. A fishing reel as defined in claim 1 wherein said resilient means is a torsion spring having opposite ends, one end thereof being engaged to said handle, the other end thereof being engaged to said drag-force measuring mechanism. 
     
     
       6. A fishing reel as defined in claim 1 wherein disengageable locking means interconnect said handle and said drag-force measuring mechanism. 
     
     
       7. A fishing reel comprising a casing, a spool shaft, a spool carried on said spool shaft, a fishing line wound about said spool, means rotatably mounting said spool shaft in said casing, a handle shaft having inner and outer end portions, a bearing rotatably supporting the inner portion whereby the outer portion is located outwardly of said casing, a handle, means mounting said handle on said handle shaft on the outer end portion for relatively rotatable motion with respect thereto, a drag device engaged to said spool shaft for applying a pre-selected drag-force to said spool shaft, gear means connecting said handle shaft and said spool shaft, a drag-force measuring mechanism fixed on said handle for applying on said handle a torque slightly greater than the drag-force applied to the spool shaft by said drag device, and cooperative visual drag-force display means provided on said drag-force measuring mechanism and said handle. 
     
     
       8. A fishing reel as defined in claim 7 wherein said handle shaft is axially perpendicular to said spool shaft. 
     
     
       9. A fishing reel as defined in claim 7 wherein said means operatively connecting said handle shaft and said spool shaft comprises a drive gear mounted on said handle shaft and a pinion gear mounted on said spool shaft. 
     
     
       10. A fishing reel as defined in claim 7 wherein said drag-force measuring mechanism includes a a torsion spring having opposite ends, one end thereof being engaged to said handle, the other end thereof being engaged to said drag-force measuring mechanism. 
     
     
       11. A fishing reel as defined in claim 7 wherein disengageable locking means interconnect said handle and said drag-force measuring mechanism.